Closure for collapsible tubes



1937. s. P. NEUHAUSEN 2,091,686

CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed July 25, 1936 Patented I Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in closures for collapsible tubes.

One object of the invention is to provide a closure for collapsible tubes which is simple in construction and convenient in use in that it renders unnecessary the removal of a screw cap before and replacing the same after expressing the desired quantity of paste or like contents from the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure which may be employed in conjunction with a screw cap for the tube if desired or with a tube so formed that no cap is required.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure member of the type mentioned which preferably is formed of resilient material, as

metal, for example, and so constructed as to render convenient its removal from one cap or tube to another by the user, if desired, and to facilitate manufacture and. assembly.

In the accompanying drawing wherein certain embodiments of the invention are shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conventional collapsible tube of the type employed for tooth paste, shaving cream and the like, and having a screw cap attached to which is an embodiment of I one form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a broken sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detached closure member of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modifled form of tube, the upper end of which is provided with a closure member of the form shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the tube and closure member shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the discharge of material from the tube.

Figure I is a broken elevation of a tube, partially in section, illustrating a detachable self-closing closure member carried by the tube cap.

Figure 8 is a broken top plan view of the tube, cap and closure member shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detached top plan view of a closure member of the type shown in Figures '7 and 8.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing a conventional collapsible tube I0 is illustrated having a threaded neck II for receiving a screw cap l2 for closing the outlet passage of the neck. The cap I 2 may correspond to a. conventional cap 55 but is modified by the provision of a diametrical slot l3 in its upper surface into which opens a passage l4 through which the paste is discharged by compressing the body of the tube in the usual manner.

' A closure member I5, illustrated in detached relation in Figure 3, of U shape, is provided for closing the opening I4. The member l5 has two legs l5a, l5b, the former of which is slidable within the channel or slot l3 of the cap and preferably closely contacts at its longitudinal edges the vertical walls l3a. or the channel.

The leg l5a may be flat or slightly curved, as illustrated to correspond with the plane or curvature of the upper surface of the cap. The leg IE1), is connected integrally to the leg l5a by the end wall We and slidably contacts the lower or inner surface of the top wall of the cap whereas the wall I50 abuts the wall Ma of the outlet passage l4 when the member 15 is in closed position. The member l5 preferably is formed of spring material, such as metal, and is attached to the cap by inserting the leg l5b through the opening l4 and springing thelegs apart sufflciently to enable it to seat in the positions illustrated. The leg l5b exerts pressure against the inner surface of the cap and retains the leg I51: within the slot l3.

The leg 15a may be provided with a finger piece, such as the roll I6 by means of which the closure can be slid to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, to the dotted line position, to uncover the opening I4 to permit the desired quantity of the tube contents to be expressed from the tube. A simple movement by the linger only is required in sliding the member l5 to the closed position shown in the drawing.

The spring action of the legs I5w, I 5b upon the upper and lower walls of the top of the cap is sufficient to retain the closure in either the open or closed position, but preferably is not great enough to prevent relatively free sliding movement of the closure. The contact between the longitudinal edges of the leg 15a with the walls l3a of the channel I3 is sufficiently close to prevent the tube contents from oozing out when the closure member is in closed position.

The operation of the member l5, as described, is more convenient than removing and replacing a screw cap, as will be seen. I

The modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 relates to the construction of the tube "only since the closure l5 above described is adapted for use with the tube without alteration of the former. The tube I'I, instead of being formed with a conventional threaded neck is thicker at the upper end It! and may be of the dome-like shape illustrated. A diametrical channel I9 is provided in the outer surface of the top having vertical walls l9a corresponding to walls [3a ofthe form above described. An outlet port or passage 20 is provided through which the tube contents is expelled. The closure IS, the legs la, l5b of which embrace the upper and lower surfaces of the end 19, is slidable in the direction of the channel for opening or closing the passage in the same manner as described above.

It will be noted that the passage M of Fig. 1 and passage 20 of Fig. 4 are located, not centrally of the cap I2 and top l9, respectively, but near one end of the respective channels 53 and I9. This arrangement enables the use of longer and more flexible legs I5a, I5b which slide more freely without binding on the cap 12 or tube 20 top [9.

In use the closure member is first moved to open position and the tube then held in sharply inclined position with that side of the cap or tube top in which the outlet passage (ll or I9) is located in lowermost position as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The ribbon of paste issuing from the passage is severed and generally drops free of the cap when the member I5 is moved to closed position. If the tube is not held in suflflciently inclined position and the paste contacts the cap surface, the relatively small area available between the passage and the edge of the cap for adherence by the paste (where the passage, as preferred, is off-set from the center) eliminates in large measure the adhesion of the paste to the top of the cap or tube.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 9 a conventional screw neck tube 22 is shown and a threaded cap 23 provided with a diametrical slot 24 therein which communicates with the discharge passage 25. Positioned within the slot is a flexible closure member 26 which is free at one end and at the opposite end is turned downwardly and provided with arcuate spring arms 21 adapted to be snapped partially around the cylindrical portion 23a of the cap beneath the usual flange 23b. The closure member 26 extends over the upper end of the passage 25 to close the same normally but is of sufficient flexibility that the free end thereof will move away from the base of the channel or slot 24 under the pressure of the contents of the tube 22 when the same is compressed and permit the paste to flow between the closure member and base of the channel for discharge at or near the edge of the cap. Upon releasing the tube the member 26 re-seats itself in the position illustrated, thus closing the tube.

It will be obvious that the closure member 26 may be employed with a tube having an upper end shaped similarly to a cap but integral with the tube. In other words a detachable cap is not essential to the invention.

In the modifications of the invention illustrated, the paste is discharged preferably at or adjacent an edge of the cap which may be considered the top portion of the tube. It will also be seen that the flexible closure members move in diametrical channels having vertical side walls which cooperate with the closure members to prevent the escape of paste past the edges of the closure members.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my improvements for the purpose of illustration, I do not wish to be restricted specifically thereto except as so limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible container having a discharge passage in one end thereof, a diametrical slot in said end communicating with said passage, and a closure member slidable longitudinally of said slot over and from said passage for closing and opening the same respectively.

2. A collapsible container having a discharge passage in one end thereof, a diametrical slot in said end communicating with said passage, and a U-shaped closure member having one leg disposed within said slot and the other leg disposed beneath said end and slidable to and from passage closing position.

3. A collapsible tube having a cap at the discharge end thereof, a discharge passage in the top of said cap, a diametrical slot in the outer surface of said cap communicating with said passage, and a U-shaped closing member for said passage having one leg slidable longitudinally of said passage to and from passage closing position and the other leg disposed within said cap and flexibly engaging an inner wall thereof.

4. A collapsible container having a relatively thick end wall provided with a discharge passage therethrough, a diametrical slot in theouter surface of said wall communicating with said passage, and a U-shaped closure member for said passage having one leg slidably disposed in said slot for movement to and from passage closing position and the other leg resiliently engaging the inner surface of said wall.

5. A closure for the discharge end of a collapsible container provided with a discharge passage comprising a slidable resilient member U-shaped in longitudinal section having the legs thereof in resilient sliding contact with the upper and lower surfaces of said end and slidable transversely oi. said end to and from closing position with respect to said passage.

SEBASTIAN P. NEUHAUSEN. 

